Unplayed Kitara–Vipers fixture casts shadow over UPL season
The match, scheduled for the first day of the season, was supposed to be played at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, as part of a double-header arrangement organised jointly by FUFA and the UPL Secretariat.
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Uncertainty continues to hang over the 2025/2026 Uganda Premier League (UPL) title race following the prolonged delay by the FUFA Disciplinary Panel to issue a verdict on the unplayed opening-day fixture between Kitara and Vipers.
The match, scheduled for the first day of the season, was supposed to be played at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, as part of a double-header arrangement organised jointly by FUFA and the UPL Secretariat.
On the same day, KCCA FC hosted SC Villa at the same venue.
However, the fixture failed to take place after Vipers declined to honour the game in protest against FUFA’s newly introduced and widely unpopular three-round league format.
At the time, Vipers, backed by a section of fans, strongly opposed the reforms and communicated their position through club president Lawrence Mulindwa, stating that the club would not participate in the arrangement. True to their word, Vipers did not show up at Namboole.
Kitara, who had accepted the new league format, honoured the fixture but could not play due to Vipers’ absence. Meanwhile, the KCCA-Villa match went ahead as planned but was played in an eerie atmosphere, with nearly 45,000 empty seats as fans boycotted league matches in solidarity with the protest.
The boycott persisted in the early weeks of the season, with Vipers leading the resistance as the remaining 15 UPL clubs continued to fulfil their fixtures. Following mounting pressure from clubs, supporters and other stakeholders, FUFA eventually bowed to demands and suspended the three-round league format, reverting to the traditional two-round home-and-away system.
In a statement, FUFA confirmed the decision: “The FUFA Executive Committee has taken a decision to suspend the format of the 2025/2026 StarTimes Uganda Premier League season after consultations with the UPL clubs, league sponsors and the Uganda Premier League Board. Rule 14:4-12 of the FUFA Competition Rules 2025 will now not apply for this season.”
After the reversal, Vipers returned to league action and fans gradually made their way back to stadiums. However, controversy deepened when FUFA and the UPL Secretariat released revised fixtures for matches Vipers had missed during the protest, without mentioning the Kitara fixture. To date, no official communication has been made regarding whether the match will be replayed or decided administratively.
Further confusion arose when FUFA stated that although the three-round format had been suspended, fixtures and results already recorded would continue to count. This contradiction left clubs and fans questioning how a suspended system could still produce binding results.
Earlier, FUFA Competitions Director Aisha Nalule acknowledged the matter, telling Vision Sport that a verdict was being prepared and would be communicated in due course. “We have not yet made any decision regarding that particular incident. Once it is made, we shall communicate it to the public,” she said at the time. That assurance came nearly two months ago, but the decision remains pending.
The delay has become increasingly significant as the title race tightens. KCCA currently lead the table with 23 points, followed by Vipers on 21, Villa on 20 and Kitara on 19, just four points separating the top four sides.
With the standings so finely balanced, clubs involved in the title hunt and their supporters are urging the FUFA Disciplinary Panel to resolve the Kitara–Vipers matter promptly to ensure clarity and fairness.
Kitara president Deo Kasozi says his club is prepared to accept any outcome, provided the decision respects the laws of the game. “As Kitara, we are ready for any decision FUFA takes. If they award us three points because we honoured the fixture, we shall accept it. If they rule that the game should be played, we are ready to play,” Kasozi said. “In this situation, let football win.”
Vipers, on their part, maintain that the match should be rescheduled. Club director Haruna Kyobe insists the fixture was never played and awaits official communication. “We are waiting for the date when we shall play that game. We wrote to FUFA and the UPL regarding the Kitara fixture when our other matches were rescheduled, and their response was “noted”. Our expectation is that a date will be communicated and we will play,” Kyobe explained.